12 apr 2014
Israeli forces detained a Palestinian man on Saturday evening after he tried to defend his family from a home invasion by Jewish settlers in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, a local activist group said.
Mofid Sharbati, 46, was detained by Israeli forces after a group of settlers entered his home on Shuhada street in central Hebron, coordinator for Youth against Settlements Issa Amro said.
His brother Zidan Sharbati was wounded during the incident, which began when Jewish settlers entered their homes and began beating the brothers as well as members of their families.
When the two attempted to respond, Israeli forces who were on the scene came to the aid of settlers and continued the assault, Amro said.
Israeli forces detained Mofid during the incident, while Zidan was evacuated from the scene by an ambulance and taken to Hebron Hospital, where doctors said his wounds were "moderate."
An Israeli military spokeswoman did not have any information regarding the incident.
Jewish settlers routinely threaten and harass local Palestinians in Hebron's Old City in an effort to force them to hand over their properties for the expansion of Jewish settlements.
500 Jewish settlers already live in the Old City, many of whom have illegally occupied Palestinian houses and forcibly removed the original inhabitants. They are protected by thousands of Israeli soldiers.
A 1997 agreement split Hebron into areas of Palestinian and Israeli control.
The Israeli military-controlled H2 zone includes the ancient Old City, home of the revered Ibrahimi Mosque -- also split into a synagogue referred to as the Tomb of the Patriarchs -- and the once thriving Shuhada street, now just shuttered shops fronts and closed homes.
Mofid Sharbati, 46, was detained by Israeli forces after a group of settlers entered his home on Shuhada street in central Hebron, coordinator for Youth against Settlements Issa Amro said.
His brother Zidan Sharbati was wounded during the incident, which began when Jewish settlers entered their homes and began beating the brothers as well as members of their families.
When the two attempted to respond, Israeli forces who were on the scene came to the aid of settlers and continued the assault, Amro said.
Israeli forces detained Mofid during the incident, while Zidan was evacuated from the scene by an ambulance and taken to Hebron Hospital, where doctors said his wounds were "moderate."
An Israeli military spokeswoman did not have any information regarding the incident.
Jewish settlers routinely threaten and harass local Palestinians in Hebron's Old City in an effort to force them to hand over their properties for the expansion of Jewish settlements.
500 Jewish settlers already live in the Old City, many of whom have illegally occupied Palestinian houses and forcibly removed the original inhabitants. They are protected by thousands of Israeli soldiers.
A 1997 agreement split Hebron into areas of Palestinian and Israeli control.
The Israeli military-controlled H2 zone includes the ancient Old City, home of the revered Ibrahimi Mosque -- also split into a synagogue referred to as the Tomb of the Patriarchs -- and the once thriving Shuhada street, now just shuttered shops fronts and closed homes.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have raided at early morning hours on Saturday different neighborhoods in Jenin, where they conducted combining operations and fired sound bombs. Palestinian security sources told PIC correspondent that the Israeli forces also stormed Suweitat area and heavily deployed in the vicinity of Kadim evacuated settlement.
The IOF soldiers erected on Saturday morning a checkpoint on the road linking Jenin city to Yabad village, and started searching Palestinian vehicles.
On the other hand, Israeli settlers threatened Saturday morning Palestinian farmers while working in their agricultural lands in al-Khalil.
Eyewitnesses told PIC correspondent that dozens of armed Israeli settlers stormed Palestinian agricultural lands in Halhul town northern al-Khalil.
Israeli settlers started screaming, threatening, and terrorizing Palestinian farmers, creating a state of panic among the villagers.
Large settlers groups are used to carry out, on weekends, attacks and assaults against Palestinian farmers and their properties.
Meanwhile, violent clashes erupted Friday between Israeli forces and Palestinian youths at Bab al-Zawiya area in al-Khalil southern West Bank.
The Israeli occupation forces, stationed at Bab al-Zawiya military checkpoint, fired rubber bullets, tear gas and sound bombs at Palestinian youths of whom dozens have suffered breathing problems after inhaling the tear gas.
The IOF soldiers erected on Saturday morning a checkpoint on the road linking Jenin city to Yabad village, and started searching Palestinian vehicles.
On the other hand, Israeli settlers threatened Saturday morning Palestinian farmers while working in their agricultural lands in al-Khalil.
Eyewitnesses told PIC correspondent that dozens of armed Israeli settlers stormed Palestinian agricultural lands in Halhul town northern al-Khalil.
Israeli settlers started screaming, threatening, and terrorizing Palestinian farmers, creating a state of panic among the villagers.
Large settlers groups are used to carry out, on weekends, attacks and assaults against Palestinian farmers and their properties.
Meanwhile, violent clashes erupted Friday between Israeli forces and Palestinian youths at Bab al-Zawiya area in al-Khalil southern West Bank.
The Israeli occupation forces, stationed at Bab al-Zawiya military checkpoint, fired rubber bullets, tear gas and sound bombs at Palestinian youths of whom dozens have suffered breathing problems after inhaling the tear gas.
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Four children have been injured this morning in Hebron after a group of Israeli soldiers assaulted them. The attack took place in the Old City of Hebron.
The children are Arif Jaber, 13 years old, Mohammed Arif Jaber, 11, Amir Arif Jaber, 10 and Basil Ayman Jaber, 11. One of the parents of the children said that the Israeli soldiers used rifle butts and their boots to hit the children. The children had to be taken to the Hebron Governmental Hospital for treatment. Every Saturday in Hebron the Jewish settlers march through the Old City to get to Ibrahimi Mosque, where they pray in a part of the building that has been reconverted into a synagogue. This group of settlers |
march escorted by numerous soldiers in streets crowded by the Palestinians who live there, and it is not uncommon for the soldiers and the settlers to assault some of the Palestinians around them.
Furthermore, in Beit Hanina, next to Jerusalem, extremist settlers have attacked three young Palestinians. The attack took place next to the illegal settlement Pisgat Zeev. The three Jerusalemites had to be transported by ambulance to the Hadassah Ein Karem hospital for treatment. One of them has been seriously injured.
Al-Waa’ri and Al-Jibrin are victims of a settlers’ assault
Three young Jerusalemite men were injured with wounds and bruises after they were assaulted by dozens of settlers from the settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev.
They are: 21-year old Abdullah Al-Jibrin, 20-year old Ehab Al-Jibrin and 20-year old Ghaleb Al-Waa’ri.
Abdullah Jibrin was injured with a deep cut in his forehead which required 15 stitches in addition to wounds in his back and the rest of his body as he was attacked with a knife. Al-Waa’ri was injured in the cheek bone and Ehab was injured with several wounds and bruises.
Al-Waa’ri family explained that the young men were assaulted on Friday night when they went to withdraw money from the ATM machine in the settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev that is established on the lands of Beit Hanina. A settler blocked their way and started harassing the young men while they were in the car. Abdullah stepped outside the car and he was immediately surrounded by 30 settlers which caused the other young men to step outside the car to help Abdullah who was attacked with a knife on his face and was bleeding; they were all assaulted and beaten with knives and baton by the settlers.
The family explained that a police car that was passing-by in the area dispersed the settlers using force and arrested three of them.
Furthermore, in Beit Hanina, next to Jerusalem, extremist settlers have attacked three young Palestinians. The attack took place next to the illegal settlement Pisgat Zeev. The three Jerusalemites had to be transported by ambulance to the Hadassah Ein Karem hospital for treatment. One of them has been seriously injured.
Al-Waa’ri and Al-Jibrin are victims of a settlers’ assault
Three young Jerusalemite men were injured with wounds and bruises after they were assaulted by dozens of settlers from the settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev.
They are: 21-year old Abdullah Al-Jibrin, 20-year old Ehab Al-Jibrin and 20-year old Ghaleb Al-Waa’ri.
Abdullah Jibrin was injured with a deep cut in his forehead which required 15 stitches in addition to wounds in his back and the rest of his body as he was attacked with a knife. Al-Waa’ri was injured in the cheek bone and Ehab was injured with several wounds and bruises.
Al-Waa’ri family explained that the young men were assaulted on Friday night when they went to withdraw money from the ATM machine in the settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev that is established on the lands of Beit Hanina. A settler blocked their way and started harassing the young men while they were in the car. Abdullah stepped outside the car and he was immediately surrounded by 30 settlers which caused the other young men to step outside the car to help Abdullah who was attacked with a knife on his face and was bleeding; they were all assaulted and beaten with knives and baton by the settlers.
The family explained that a police car that was passing-by in the area dispersed the settlers using force and arrested three of them.
Three Palestinian young men at dawn Saturday suffered wounds and bruises when a horde of Jewish settlers, from Pisgat Ze'ev settlement in the north of occupied Jerusalem, attacked them with knives and physically assaulted them. The victimized young men said in press remarks that they were attacked during their presence on Palestinian land near Pisgat Ze'ev settlement.
Dozens of hate crimes have been committed over years by Jewish settlers from Pisgat Ze'ev without Israel taking any measure to curb their assaults on the Palestinians.
In another incident, the Israeli police arrested on Friday three Palestinian citizens as they were walking to the Aqsa Mosque to perform prayers.
Local sources told Quds Press that Israeli policemen detained Mohamed Abu Faraha, Mohamed Ziyad and Salah Ajlouni as they were en route to the Aqsa Mosque to perform prayers and took them to an interrogation center in the holy city.
Earlier, the Israeli police decided on Thursday evening to prohibit the entry of seven Jerusalemite young men to the Aqsa Mosque after arresting them at dawn on the same day.
The Israeli police handed the young men written verdicts ordering them to stay away from the Aqsa Mosque for 17 days.
Dozens of hate crimes have been committed over years by Jewish settlers from Pisgat Ze'ev without Israel taking any measure to curb their assaults on the Palestinians.
In another incident, the Israeli police arrested on Friday three Palestinian citizens as they were walking to the Aqsa Mosque to perform prayers.
Local sources told Quds Press that Israeli policemen detained Mohamed Abu Faraha, Mohamed Ziyad and Salah Ajlouni as they were en route to the Aqsa Mosque to perform prayers and took them to an interrogation center in the holy city.
Earlier, the Israeli police decided on Thursday evening to prohibit the entry of seven Jerusalemite young men to the Aqsa Mosque after arresting them at dawn on the same day.
The Israeli police handed the young men written verdicts ordering them to stay away from the Aqsa Mosque for 17 days.
Right-wing Israeli political parties have begun a campaign to sue president Abbas for "war crimes" at the International Criminal Court in response to the Palestinian Authority's recent decision to join international conventions and treaties.
The campaign comes amid a near breakdown in ongoing peace negotiations between Israel and the PLO, and seeks to file legal procedures against Abbas accusing him of supporting "terrorism" and aiding to terrorist organizations.
Beginning on Friday, Israeli newspapers and websites have published advertisements calling on Israeli lawyers to join the campaign led by the Israel Law Center to sue Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on charges of supporting terrorist organizations.
One of the prominent leaders of the campaign is chairman of the Jewish Home party Naftali Bennett, who has been a vocal critic of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
An ad in the Israeli daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth features president Abbas behind bars with a phrase in Arabic reading, "We will terrorize him in The Hague."
Palestinian officials, however, have downplayed the move, pointing out that Israel cannot pursue legal action at the international court due to its own failure to sign the treaties.
Palestinian minister of justice Ali Muhanna told Ma'an that the Israeli government had "lost balance both politically and legally."
Their response, he said, reflects the degree of rage in Israel towards the PA for attempting to join international conventions.
Muhanna confirmed that Israel "cannot engage in any legal action at the ICC because Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court."
"Such legal proceedings are submitted through the ICC's Attorney General or through the UN Security Council."
"Abbas' move isn't a war crime. But the ongoing Israeli settlement construction, confiscation of Palestinian money, killing and detention of children are war crimes," he added.
The campaign comes amid a growing crisis in peace negotiations between Israel and the PLO.
Palestinian officials applied to join 15 international conventions last week after Israel failed to release a fourth batch of veteran prisoners as previously agreed upon.
The move angered Israeli authorities, who have since called for an end to coordination with the Palestinian Authority.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the US after nearly three years of impasse.
Israel's government has announced the construction of thousands of settler housing units and its army has killed 60 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since the negotiations began.
The campaign comes amid a near breakdown in ongoing peace negotiations between Israel and the PLO, and seeks to file legal procedures against Abbas accusing him of supporting "terrorism" and aiding to terrorist organizations.
Beginning on Friday, Israeli newspapers and websites have published advertisements calling on Israeli lawyers to join the campaign led by the Israel Law Center to sue Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on charges of supporting terrorist organizations.
One of the prominent leaders of the campaign is chairman of the Jewish Home party Naftali Bennett, who has been a vocal critic of peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.
An ad in the Israeli daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth features president Abbas behind bars with a phrase in Arabic reading, "We will terrorize him in The Hague."
Palestinian officials, however, have downplayed the move, pointing out that Israel cannot pursue legal action at the international court due to its own failure to sign the treaties.
Palestinian minister of justice Ali Muhanna told Ma'an that the Israeli government had "lost balance both politically and legally."
Their response, he said, reflects the degree of rage in Israel towards the PA for attempting to join international conventions.
Muhanna confirmed that Israel "cannot engage in any legal action at the ICC because Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court."
"Such legal proceedings are submitted through the ICC's Attorney General or through the UN Security Council."
"Abbas' move isn't a war crime. But the ongoing Israeli settlement construction, confiscation of Palestinian money, killing and detention of children are war crimes," he added.
The campaign comes amid a growing crisis in peace negotiations between Israel and the PLO.
Palestinian officials applied to join 15 international conventions last week after Israel failed to release a fourth batch of veteran prisoners as previously agreed upon.
The move angered Israeli authorities, who have since called for an end to coordination with the Palestinian Authority.
Peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians were relaunched in July under the auspices of the US after nearly three years of impasse.
Israel's government has announced the construction of thousands of settler housing units and its army has killed 60 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since the negotiations began.
11 apr 2014
Israel's military on Friday occupied a Jewish seminary in an extremist West Bank settlement after a series of clashes between settlers and security forces there.
"Following the recent increase in violence towards security forces, and in order to address ongoing security concerns, (the army) positioned a company of border police in the Yitzhar yeshiva building," it said in a statement.
"The structure was chosen based on security needs to prevent violence and vandalism targeting security personnel and the adjacent villages, originating from the area of the yeshiva," the army said.
The seizure order was valid until June 15.
The measure comes after 15 Yitzhar residents were arrested for allegedly stoning security forces and demolishing a military post in the northern West Bank settlement.
Israel's security establishment reacted by vowing to take severe measures.
The Yitzhar settlement called the seminary move "hysterical and historic."
"Turning a yeshiva into a military base is crossing a red line," a statement said, charging that a nearby mosque with a pending demolition order still stood and calling on the government to "leave the yeshiva immediately."
A statement from the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva itself condemned what it called the "desecration" of the holy place's sanctity.
An AFP correspondent said the army has closed off the entrance to Yitzhar, setting up roadblocks and limiting access to residents only.
The area around the villages south of Nablus is a frequent site of settler violence and Palestinian clashes with Israeli forces as it is located beside the notoriously violent Israeli settlement of Yitzhar.
Settlers frequently attack a number of local villages and prevent farmers from reaching their lands, according to UNOCHA, in addition to attacks on local olive trees themselves.
Attacks by settlers on Israeli forces, however, are much rarer.
"Following the recent increase in violence towards security forces, and in order to address ongoing security concerns, (the army) positioned a company of border police in the Yitzhar yeshiva building," it said in a statement.
"The structure was chosen based on security needs to prevent violence and vandalism targeting security personnel and the adjacent villages, originating from the area of the yeshiva," the army said.
The seizure order was valid until June 15.
The measure comes after 15 Yitzhar residents were arrested for allegedly stoning security forces and demolishing a military post in the northern West Bank settlement.
Israel's security establishment reacted by vowing to take severe measures.
The Yitzhar settlement called the seminary move "hysterical and historic."
"Turning a yeshiva into a military base is crossing a red line," a statement said, charging that a nearby mosque with a pending demolition order still stood and calling on the government to "leave the yeshiva immediately."
A statement from the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva itself condemned what it called the "desecration" of the holy place's sanctity.
An AFP correspondent said the army has closed off the entrance to Yitzhar, setting up roadblocks and limiting access to residents only.
The area around the villages south of Nablus is a frequent site of settler violence and Palestinian clashes with Israeli forces as it is located beside the notoriously violent Israeli settlement of Yitzhar.
Settlers frequently attack a number of local villages and prevent farmers from reaching their lands, according to UNOCHA, in addition to attacks on local olive trees themselves.
Attacks by settlers on Israeli forces, however, are much rarer.
One of the seven Israeli West Bank settlers from Yitzhar is brought in handcuffs to the Jerusalem Magistrates court on April 10, 2014 after they were arrested on suspicion of demolishing a military base in an extremist settlement in the West Bank
Israeli police said Thursday they arrested five people suspected of demolishing a military base in an extremist settlement in the West Bank, the latest attack against security forces by hardliners.
The males, aged 16-29, were arrested for involvement in Tuesday's vandalism in the northern West Bank settlement of Yitzhar, spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Another three suspects were in custody, two for the same attack and a third for throwing stones at soldiers patrolling the settlement, Rosenfeld said.
On Sunday, the tires of a vehicle belonging to a military commander visiting Yitzhar were slashed.
The following night, stone-throwing settlers injured six border guards as soldiers helped demolish a wildcat settlement outpost nearby.
That prompted Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon to warn that any further violence against security personnel would be dealt with severely.
And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged a "strong response to these... acts of hooliganism."
Former chiefs of Israel's Shin Bet internal security service said the attacks should be dealt with severely.
"The things that are happening in Yitzhar truly are Jewish terrorism," Avraham Shalom, director from 1980 to 1986, told Yedioth Aharonoth newspaper.
Avi Dichter, Shin Bet head from 2000 to 2005, said "they didn't kill the soldiers and they didn't take them hostage, but they did precisely what terrorists do: they took the law into their own hands ... and hurt people in order to coerce the state into acquiescing to their demands."
Meanwhile, the army said Thursday it would not allow a march to the site of an evacuated settlement that had been planned for next week.
"Following an assessment of (army's) ability to allocate the required forces necessary to provide security, the decision was made not to approve the march to Homesh," a statement said.
But settlers accused the army of punishing Yitzhar residents for the actions of a few wayward individuals.
"The army told us it was cancelling Homesh following the Yitzhar incidents," a spokeswoman for the Samaria regional council, which covers northern West Bank settlements including Yitzhar, told AFP.
"It is inconceivable that the Samaria council and the entire settler populace has to pay a price over the deeds of a few outlaws, who should be arrested by police."
The northern West Bank settlement of Homesh was built on land confiscated from Palestinians in 1978, and cleared of settlers in 2005. The military said in September the land was due to be returned to its Palestinian owners in the village of Burka.
Israeli police said Thursday they arrested five people suspected of demolishing a military base in an extremist settlement in the West Bank, the latest attack against security forces by hardliners.
The males, aged 16-29, were arrested for involvement in Tuesday's vandalism in the northern West Bank settlement of Yitzhar, spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.
Another three suspects were in custody, two for the same attack and a third for throwing stones at soldiers patrolling the settlement, Rosenfeld said.
On Sunday, the tires of a vehicle belonging to a military commander visiting Yitzhar were slashed.
The following night, stone-throwing settlers injured six border guards as soldiers helped demolish a wildcat settlement outpost nearby.
That prompted Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon to warn that any further violence against security personnel would be dealt with severely.
And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged a "strong response to these... acts of hooliganism."
Former chiefs of Israel's Shin Bet internal security service said the attacks should be dealt with severely.
"The things that are happening in Yitzhar truly are Jewish terrorism," Avraham Shalom, director from 1980 to 1986, told Yedioth Aharonoth newspaper.
Avi Dichter, Shin Bet head from 2000 to 2005, said "they didn't kill the soldiers and they didn't take them hostage, but they did precisely what terrorists do: they took the law into their own hands ... and hurt people in order to coerce the state into acquiescing to their demands."
Meanwhile, the army said Thursday it would not allow a march to the site of an evacuated settlement that had been planned for next week.
"Following an assessment of (army's) ability to allocate the required forces necessary to provide security, the decision was made not to approve the march to Homesh," a statement said.
But settlers accused the army of punishing Yitzhar residents for the actions of a few wayward individuals.
"The army told us it was cancelling Homesh following the Yitzhar incidents," a spokeswoman for the Samaria regional council, which covers northern West Bank settlements including Yitzhar, told AFP.
"It is inconceivable that the Samaria council and the entire settler populace has to pay a price over the deeds of a few outlaws, who should be arrested by police."
The northern West Bank settlement of Homesh was built on land confiscated from Palestinians in 1978, and cleared of settlers in 2005. The military said in September the land was due to be returned to its Palestinian owners in the village of Burka.
10 apr 2014
Al-Aqsa Foundation of Heritage and Islamic Waqf said, on Wednesday, that the so-called "Temple Mount" organizations have announced a set of activities to be held in al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards and lasting for a week, starting today [Thursday, April 10, 2014].
Associations of these organizations will hold training and explanation sessions in western occupied Jerusalem about "Temple Mount Oblations" in al-Aqsa mosque yards, according to Al Ray. The sessions will be followed by other activities starting from next Monday on the anniversary of Jewish "Passover", Al-Aqsa foundation said in a press release.
The associations invited Jewish families and their children for group break-ins of al-Aqsa mosque on the 14th, 16th and 17th of this month to perform Talmudic rituals, the foundation added. It assured, via social networks, that the break-ins will be protected by Israeli forces.
The foundation considered such activities as attempts by the Israeli occupation to impose a fait accompli in al-Aqsa mosque.
Israeli settlers and politicians have lately been violating the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, almost on a daily basis, and always under the protection of armed occupation forces, which often attack Palestinian worshipers who try to protect their holy site.
In related news, two members of the US Congress, on Thursday, joined right-wing Jews who toured the al-Aqsa Mosque compound escorted by Israeli police officers, a Jerusalem-based Fatah official said.
Dimitri Daliani told Ma’an that Republicans Bill Johnson of Ohio and David McKinley of Virginia entered the compound with the “extremist” Chaim Richman, director of the rightist Temple Institute.
Daliani said the “congressmen’s participation in such criminal incursions into the al-Aqsa Mosque without being questioned by their own government indicates collusion with settler gangs whose aim is to hurt the al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Daliani urged Arab and Muslim communities in the United States districts represented by those representatives to “punish them at the ballots.”
He added that Johnson and McKinley were hosted by the Israel Allies Foundation which is active in “disseminating extremist Zionist ideology in the United States.”
related
Associations of these organizations will hold training and explanation sessions in western occupied Jerusalem about "Temple Mount Oblations" in al-Aqsa mosque yards, according to Al Ray. The sessions will be followed by other activities starting from next Monday on the anniversary of Jewish "Passover", Al-Aqsa foundation said in a press release.
The associations invited Jewish families and their children for group break-ins of al-Aqsa mosque on the 14th, 16th and 17th of this month to perform Talmudic rituals, the foundation added. It assured, via social networks, that the break-ins will be protected by Israeli forces.
The foundation considered such activities as attempts by the Israeli occupation to impose a fait accompli in al-Aqsa mosque.
Israeli settlers and politicians have lately been violating the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, almost on a daily basis, and always under the protection of armed occupation forces, which often attack Palestinian worshipers who try to protect their holy site.
In related news, two members of the US Congress, on Thursday, joined right-wing Jews who toured the al-Aqsa Mosque compound escorted by Israeli police officers, a Jerusalem-based Fatah official said.
Dimitri Daliani told Ma’an that Republicans Bill Johnson of Ohio and David McKinley of Virginia entered the compound with the “extremist” Chaim Richman, director of the rightist Temple Institute.
Daliani said the “congressmen’s participation in such criminal incursions into the al-Aqsa Mosque without being questioned by their own government indicates collusion with settler gangs whose aim is to hurt the al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Daliani urged Arab and Muslim communities in the United States districts represented by those representatives to “punish them at the ballots.”
He added that Johnson and McKinley were hosted by the Israel Allies Foundation which is active in “disseminating extremist Zionist ideology in the United States.”
related
Two members of the US Congress on Thursday joined right-wing Jews who toured the al-Aqsa Mosque compound escorted by Israeli police officers, a Jerusalem-based Fatah official said.
Dimitri Daliani told Ma’an that Republicans Bill Johnson of Ohio and David McKinley of Virginia entered the compound with the “extremist” Chaim Richman, director of the rightist Temple Institute.
Daliani said the “congressmen’s participation in such criminal incursions into the al-Aqsa Mosque without being questioned by their own government indicates collusion with settler gangs whose aim is to hurt the al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Daliani urged Arab and Muslim communities in the United States districts represented by those representatives to “punish them at the ballots.”
He added that Johnson and McKinley were hosted by the Israel Allies Foundation which is active in “disseminating extremist Zionist ideology in the United States.”
Dimitri Daliani told Ma’an that Republicans Bill Johnson of Ohio and David McKinley of Virginia entered the compound with the “extremist” Chaim Richman, director of the rightist Temple Institute.
Daliani said the “congressmen’s participation in such criminal incursions into the al-Aqsa Mosque without being questioned by their own government indicates collusion with settler gangs whose aim is to hurt the al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Daliani urged Arab and Muslim communities in the United States districts represented by those representatives to “punish them at the ballots.”
He added that Johnson and McKinley were hosted by the Israel Allies Foundation which is active in “disseminating extremist Zionist ideology in the United States.”
There has been no significant improvement of media freedoms in Palestine during March 2014, on the contrary, March witnessed a rise in violations against journalists during their coverage of the numerous events that took place in various parts of the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, where the occupation attempts to prevent in different ways to block the reality of their violations against Palestinian citizens, their homes, their land, and their trees.
The intensification of the occupation forces for violations and targeting of Palestinian journalists in dangerous manners by throwing stun grenades and rubber bullets at them was also accompanied with Israeli settlers' life threatening violence against four Palestinian journalists.
On the other hand, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) has also monitored an increasing number and a variety of Palestinian violations against journalists in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which part of it is due to the Palestinian Internal stress, which reflected negatively on media freedoms.
Israeli Violations:
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) attacked a large group of journalists in March, where on Sunday 23rd March 2014 they targeted Iyad Hamad (55years old) Associated Press Photographer, while he was covering the clashes erupted between young Palestinians and the IOF in Aida Refugee Camp near Bethlehem City. On Tuesday 11th March 2014, Sinan Abu Mezr (41 years old) Reuters' photographer was injured by an IOF rubber Bullet in his chest, while he was covering a demonstration that set out from the Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem to condemn the martyrdom of Palestinian citizens in the West Bank. The IOF also attacked a group of journalists during their coverage of a demonstration in the city of Jerusalem to commemorate Earth Day on Saturday 29th March 2014.
In Gaza Strip, the IOF attacked Ayman Alsayfe (36 years old) Alkitab TV cameraman, while he was covering a peaceful demonstration near the border to commemorate Earth Day on Thursday 27th March 2014.
On Friday 7th March 2014 in the afternoon, near the settlement of Beit Eil, north of Ramallah, a group of Israeli settlers attacked three photojournalists; Abbas Momani – Photographer at France Press agency, Maath Misha'al – photgrapher at Anatolia Agency, and freelance photographer Abdul Karim Mesetif . On Sunday 16th March 2014, a group of settlers attacked Palestine Today TV correspondent Fida Nasser, attacked by settlers and the IOF detained her after the incident that occurred when she was preparing a report about the effects on Palestinian citizens by Jewish holidays in the city of Hebron, near the entrance of Martyrs Street.
On Sunday 23rd March 2014, the IOF detained 6 Palestinian journalists in different locations in the West Bank North near Nablus and South near Bethlehem, while exercising their profession. They are: Dubai TV correspondent Mohamed Assayed, Associated Press cameraman Mohamed Hassan and the producer Rami Abdu, French Agency photographer Mousa Alshaer, Alquds Dot Com photographer Abd-Alrahman Younis, and an American photographer "name unknown".
The IOF also detained Al Roaya TV crew (Ahmed Barahma "25 years old"- correspondent and Mohamed Shousha "30years old"- cameraman), when they were on their way to film "Bab Alkarama" village near Jericho", on Saturday 29th March 2014.
On Monday 2nd March 2014, the IOF prevented Alquds Net correspondent Diala Jwehan from covering a protest against closing Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem City. And they prevented Ma'an TV cameraman Jalal Hamied, and the photographers Abd-Alrahman Younis and Mousa Alshaer on Tuesday 18th March 2014, from covering a military Jeep rollover in Tekoa area near Beit Sahour city. On Monday 24th March 2014, the IOF prevent Shihab News Agency correspondent Amer Abu Arafa from covering and forced him to delete any footage, while he was covering the IOF raiding of Hebron City near Alansar Mosque.
Palestinian Violations:
MADA center also monitored a number of Palestinian violations in March. In the West Bank a member of security forces pushed and threatened Faten Alwan- Alhura channel correspondent while she was covering a women's protest in front of the Palestinian Authority Headquarters "Almoqata'a" in Ramallah demanding amendments on the Penal code and the personal status for women law, on 6th March 2014.
On 29th March 2014, members of the security in civilian clothes attacked Watan TV crew (correspondent Ahmad Melhem, "29year old", and cameraman Ahmed Zaki "24 years old") after they covered the sermon for Altahrir Party at Jamal Abdel Nasser mosque in the city of Al-bereh- Ramallah. And On Thursday 6th March, the Ministry of Palestinian Women's Affairs withheld the honoring of Nahed Abu Taima "a journalist and Informative" because of her criticism of the government, parties and institutions for not protecting women in Palestine on her Facebook page.
A complaint was submitted by the Minister of Finance Mr. Shukri Bshara against Jaffar Sadaqa, a journalist who wrote a report about the Ministry, especially that his report tackled the accountability of the ministry and the formation of an Investigation commission by the WAFA news agency that he prepared the report for, to interrogate him.
In the Gaza Strip, the Police in Gaza summoned Ayman Mustafa Ala'loul (42 years old) the correspondent at Alforat Iraqi TV, and the confiscation of his personal identification card on Monday 24th March 2014, after his report that criticized Hamas' festival to honor martyrs in Saraya Square on 23rd March 2014. And On Monday 31st March 2013, the Hamas General Intelligence services in the Gaza Strip prevented the Press House Foundation from holding a celebration to honor the journalists working at the network of Palestinian journalists at Hotel Adam.
Conclusion and recommendation:
March was difficult and hard for Palestinian journalists, many were wounded by Israeli occupation bullets, and they were subjected to serious attacks by Israeli settlers, which calls for concerted international efforts to protect Palestinian journalists and put an end to their Impunity, especially after the adoption of United Nations the decision to provide necessary and required protection for journalists when they are covering protests and peaceful marches on 28th March 2014, in addition to the UN previous resolutions and international conventions that guarantee freedom of expression.
The Palestinian authorities concerned, Must put an end to the Increasing Palestinian violations against journalists in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and they need to hold those responsible accountable, and respect freedom of opinion and expression.
MADA welcomes the signing by President Mahmoud Abbas on the accession document to the 15 organizations, treaty, and international agreement, and we consider it an important step on the road to devote human rights in Palestine, and to compel the Israeli occupation authorities to abide by these conventions and treaties that guarantee human rights, especially freedom of expression.
MADA also welcomes WAFA news agency Chairman Board of Directors Riad Al-Hassan "confirmation of his commitment to public freedoms and the commitment of the agency to no limits for freedoms in accordance with the recommendations of President Mahmoud Abbas", which came after the case of journalist Jafar Sadaqa.
The intensification of the occupation forces for violations and targeting of Palestinian journalists in dangerous manners by throwing stun grenades and rubber bullets at them was also accompanied with Israeli settlers' life threatening violence against four Palestinian journalists.
On the other hand, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) has also monitored an increasing number and a variety of Palestinian violations against journalists in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which part of it is due to the Palestinian Internal stress, which reflected negatively on media freedoms.
Israeli Violations:
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) attacked a large group of journalists in March, where on Sunday 23rd March 2014 they targeted Iyad Hamad (55years old) Associated Press Photographer, while he was covering the clashes erupted between young Palestinians and the IOF in Aida Refugee Camp near Bethlehem City. On Tuesday 11th March 2014, Sinan Abu Mezr (41 years old) Reuters' photographer was injured by an IOF rubber Bullet in his chest, while he was covering a demonstration that set out from the Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem to condemn the martyrdom of Palestinian citizens in the West Bank. The IOF also attacked a group of journalists during their coverage of a demonstration in the city of Jerusalem to commemorate Earth Day on Saturday 29th March 2014.
In Gaza Strip, the IOF attacked Ayman Alsayfe (36 years old) Alkitab TV cameraman, while he was covering a peaceful demonstration near the border to commemorate Earth Day on Thursday 27th March 2014.
On Friday 7th March 2014 in the afternoon, near the settlement of Beit Eil, north of Ramallah, a group of Israeli settlers attacked three photojournalists; Abbas Momani – Photographer at France Press agency, Maath Misha'al – photgrapher at Anatolia Agency, and freelance photographer Abdul Karim Mesetif . On Sunday 16th March 2014, a group of settlers attacked Palestine Today TV correspondent Fida Nasser, attacked by settlers and the IOF detained her after the incident that occurred when she was preparing a report about the effects on Palestinian citizens by Jewish holidays in the city of Hebron, near the entrance of Martyrs Street.
On Sunday 23rd March 2014, the IOF detained 6 Palestinian journalists in different locations in the West Bank North near Nablus and South near Bethlehem, while exercising their profession. They are: Dubai TV correspondent Mohamed Assayed, Associated Press cameraman Mohamed Hassan and the producer Rami Abdu, French Agency photographer Mousa Alshaer, Alquds Dot Com photographer Abd-Alrahman Younis, and an American photographer "name unknown".
The IOF also detained Al Roaya TV crew (Ahmed Barahma "25 years old"- correspondent and Mohamed Shousha "30years old"- cameraman), when they were on their way to film "Bab Alkarama" village near Jericho", on Saturday 29th March 2014.
On Monday 2nd March 2014, the IOF prevented Alquds Net correspondent Diala Jwehan from covering a protest against closing Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem City. And they prevented Ma'an TV cameraman Jalal Hamied, and the photographers Abd-Alrahman Younis and Mousa Alshaer on Tuesday 18th March 2014, from covering a military Jeep rollover in Tekoa area near Beit Sahour city. On Monday 24th March 2014, the IOF prevent Shihab News Agency correspondent Amer Abu Arafa from covering and forced him to delete any footage, while he was covering the IOF raiding of Hebron City near Alansar Mosque.
Palestinian Violations:
MADA center also monitored a number of Palestinian violations in March. In the West Bank a member of security forces pushed and threatened Faten Alwan- Alhura channel correspondent while she was covering a women's protest in front of the Palestinian Authority Headquarters "Almoqata'a" in Ramallah demanding amendments on the Penal code and the personal status for women law, on 6th March 2014.
On 29th March 2014, members of the security in civilian clothes attacked Watan TV crew (correspondent Ahmad Melhem, "29year old", and cameraman Ahmed Zaki "24 years old") after they covered the sermon for Altahrir Party at Jamal Abdel Nasser mosque in the city of Al-bereh- Ramallah. And On Thursday 6th March, the Ministry of Palestinian Women's Affairs withheld the honoring of Nahed Abu Taima "a journalist and Informative" because of her criticism of the government, parties and institutions for not protecting women in Palestine on her Facebook page.
A complaint was submitted by the Minister of Finance Mr. Shukri Bshara against Jaffar Sadaqa, a journalist who wrote a report about the Ministry, especially that his report tackled the accountability of the ministry and the formation of an Investigation commission by the WAFA news agency that he prepared the report for, to interrogate him.
In the Gaza Strip, the Police in Gaza summoned Ayman Mustafa Ala'loul (42 years old) the correspondent at Alforat Iraqi TV, and the confiscation of his personal identification card on Monday 24th March 2014, after his report that criticized Hamas' festival to honor martyrs in Saraya Square on 23rd March 2014. And On Monday 31st March 2013, the Hamas General Intelligence services in the Gaza Strip prevented the Press House Foundation from holding a celebration to honor the journalists working at the network of Palestinian journalists at Hotel Adam.
Conclusion and recommendation:
March was difficult and hard for Palestinian journalists, many were wounded by Israeli occupation bullets, and they were subjected to serious attacks by Israeli settlers, which calls for concerted international efforts to protect Palestinian journalists and put an end to their Impunity, especially after the adoption of United Nations the decision to provide necessary and required protection for journalists when they are covering protests and peaceful marches on 28th March 2014, in addition to the UN previous resolutions and international conventions that guarantee freedom of expression.
The Palestinian authorities concerned, Must put an end to the Increasing Palestinian violations against journalists in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and they need to hold those responsible accountable, and respect freedom of opinion and expression.
MADA welcomes the signing by President Mahmoud Abbas on the accession document to the 15 organizations, treaty, and international agreement, and we consider it an important step on the road to devote human rights in Palestine, and to compel the Israeli occupation authorities to abide by these conventions and treaties that guarantee human rights, especially freedom of expression.
MADA also welcomes WAFA news agency Chairman Board of Directors Riad Al-Hassan "confirmation of his commitment to public freedoms and the commitment of the agency to no limits for freedoms in accordance with the recommendations of President Mahmoud Abbas", which came after the case of journalist Jafar Sadaqa.
